Kepler-1940 b
Astrophysical Synthesis & Habitability Characterization
Kepler-1940 b is a confirmed super-earth exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-1940, located approximately 2604.7 light-years (798.6 parsecs) from the Solar System. First announced in 2021 by Kepler using the Transit detection technique (producing an estimated primary transit depth of 0.0391% across the stellar disk), this world measures 1.547 Earth radii and has a measured mass of 3.01 Earth masses. Combining its mass and radius yields a mean bulk density of 4.48 g/cm³ (a terrestrial silicate-iron composition comparable to Earth (5.51 g/cm³)), a surface gravity of 1.26 g⊕ (12.36 m/s²), and an escape velocity of 15.6 km/s.
In its orbital architecture around Kepler-1940, Kepler-1940 b completes one full revolution every 4.951 Earth days at a semi-major axis of 0.0525 AU (orbiting interior to Mercury's 0.387 AU benchmark in the Solar System). Its mean orbital velocity is approximately 115.4 km/s (compared to Earth's 29.8 km/s). The orbit is modeled as circular (e = 0.00), maintaining a constant stellar distance throughout its year.
⚠️ Thermal Regime (Irradiated / Hot Zone): At an equilibrium temperature of 885 K (+612°C / +1134°F) and receiving 145.23 S⊕ (~197,658 W/m²), Kepler-1940 b orbits interior to the runaway greenhouse boundary where surface liquid water cannot persist.
The host star Kepler-1940 is classified as a stellar host with an effective photospheric temperature of 5,431 K, a radius of 0.717 R☉, a mass of 0.802 M☉, an estimated bolometric luminosity of 0.401 L☉. Stellar evolution modeling indicates a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.44 dex (metal-poor relative to the Sun). From Earth, Kepler-1940 shines at apparent V-band magnitude 15.674 (faint and requiring research-grade or CCD telescopic photometry) in the Northern celestial hemisphere.
Methodology: Computed using the Schulze-Makuch et al. (2011) weighted metric comparing physical interior (radius, estimated density) and surface thermal regime (escape velocity, equilibrium temperature).
Discovery Facility: Kepler · Catalogue Source: NASA Exoplanet Archive (IPAC / Caltech).
☀️ Host Star Telemetry
| Host Star Name | Kepler-1940 |
| Spectral Type | Unclassified |
| Effective Temp (Teff) | 5,431 K |
| Stellar Radius | 0.7170 R☉ |
| Stellar Mass | 0.8020 M☉ |
| Bolometric Luminosity | 0.401 L☉ |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.440 dex |
| Stellar Age | — |
| Apparent Magnitude | V: 15.674 · G: 15.285 |
| System Architecture | 1 Star, 1 Planet |
🪐 Orbital & Physical Dynamics
| Semi-Major Axis (a) | 0.052500 AU |
| Orbital Period | 4.951 days |
| Mean Orbital Velocity | 115.4 km/s |
| Orbital Eccentricity (e) | 0.00000 |
| Orbital Inclination (i) | 88.6900° |
| Mean Bulk Density | 4.48 g/cm³ (15.6 km/s vesc) |
| Insolation Flux | 145.2300 S⊕ (~197,658 W/m²) |
| Habitable Zone Status | Exterior / Non-HZ |
| Celestial Distance | 2604.700 LY (798.595 pc) |